Flamengo hire ex-Real Madrid coach Luxemburgo

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Former Real Madrid and Brazil coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has been named manager of Flamengo, less than three years after being sacked by the Rio de Janeiro club.

The 62-year-old replaces Ney Franco, who was dismissed after a 4-0 loss to Internacional on Sunday, a result that left the six-time league champions last in Brazil's Serie A with one win from 11 matches.

Flamengo president Eduardo Bandeira de Mello said Luxemburgo would hold his first training session on Thursday.

"We think that it will be a mid-term to long-term contract," Mello was quoted saying by O Globo.

"The first thing we have to think about is defeating Botafogo (on Sunday). After that we can think about what happens next."

The announcement marks the fourth time Luxemburgo has coached the Brazilian giants. The most recent stint ended in February 2012.

Luxemburgo coached Brazil from 1998 to 2000 and had an 11-month spell as boss of Real Madrid in 2005.

He is the most successful manager in the history of Brazil's Serie A with five league titles.